Bloodline and Heritage

Have you asked someone the question "what you do for a living (profession)"? You probably have got a response such as "I am an accountant, I come from a long line of accountants, my father was an accountant, his father and his father or I am a runner, my father was a runner, and his father and his fore fathers".

What they are describing, consciously or otherwise is the characteristics of their heritage and bloodline; their direct line of descent.

Heritage is described as: something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion: a heritage of poverty and suffering; a national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.

Bloodline is defined as: the descendants of one individual

With this renewed understanding, if I asked you the question "what is your heritage, your bloodline?" What would your answer be? Would it be something like "I am from an African, Caucasian or Indian"?

Our response to such questions usually stems from the understanding we have of ourselves, mostly in the natural.

However, God, understand and looks at us differently. Our external appearances are irrelevant to him. It does not matter the colour of our skin, our natural DNA or ethnic background. Why? This is because we possess his DNA; which means we come from a heritage and bloodline that stems from him.

Our spiritual heritage and bloodline is more powerful and important our natural ones. Selah

To belong to a heritage and bloodline that stems from the King of King means that everything we need to do on our part to achieve God's reality is already within us; it is imprinted in our DNA. We have all the raw materials and tools we need to be an overcomer that we already are.

Don't think so? Well, lets take a look at some of the richness of our godly natural ancestors.

Starting with Moses. What do you say about this dude? He was the great man of faith. With faith in God's command and word, he parted the red sea! This means, we have faith in our bloodline. So what mountains do you have to move, what seas do you have to swim through and what dreams do you have to bring to reality? Reach within grab hold of the word of God and with faith speak and work it into manifestation.

Lets move on to the Psalmist David. I love this man. The great man of courage he is! Killing a giant with only a pebble stone! How many of us would have run for cover at the sight of a giant? His actions were that of a courageous man. Courageous in the word of God and in the ability that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him as described in Philippians 4:13, which reads "For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength".

The dictionary defines courage as: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

So, what is that difficulty in you life that presents itself like a giant? Be bold, strong, and courageous in God's word and the ability he has instilled within you, and fall that giant down.

How about Nehemiah? Now this was the man that rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, even when everyone and everything was against him. His act shows us that we have persistence within our bloodline.

The dictionary describes persistance as: persistence of vision or the act of persevering. One of the major differences between an achiever and one who is not is persistence and perseverance in that which he believes in.

How many of us in today's society, will stand firm and keep pressing forward in that which we believe in, that which God has placed within our hearts, even though current and wind in life is against us? Selah.

Is that dream you are working on not going the way you want it to go at the moment? Don't give up, don't give in, keep trying. If you fall flat on your face, get up and try again, for the word of God says in Proverbs 24:16, and it reads "For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity"

And who can forget Queen Esther? Her unselfish act of sacrifice for her people, shows us that we have the ability to sacrifice and heroism in our bloodline.

These are only a few people from our godly heritage and bloodline and they show us that we come from long line of champions. In our heritage and bloodlines, there are men and women who were not perfect in their natural, just as we are, but were overcomers, achievers, victorious and lived God's will for their lives. They stepped out in faith, were persistent, courageous, unselfish and more importantly believed in God's word and in their abilities.

As children of the Almighty God, bought, purchased and washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are champions through and through. The beauty of this is that, we are already overcomes, champions and therefore must not settle for anything less than God's best.

Has he given you a dream, and shown you the pathway to his will for you? Then rise up in faith, with courage and strength, work your way towards the reality of this dream. Don't settle for average, or mediocre existence, don't settle for anything less than God's best.

Realise that God has already called and classified you a champion; therefore embrace everything within you, step out and be the best of you that you can ever be; making him famous along the way as you do.

Much Love

Remi

***Photobucket***

The Richest Place....

Small beads of sweat was starting to form just above his brows. Henry wiped it off with the back of his glove covered hands. It had been a long day on the grounds today he thought. Henry, the grounds caretaker was carefully tending to the flowers and trees around various plots in the vast compound. He was a diligent worker and did his best to make sure the compound always looked neat and presentable.

He heard a car drive through the gates of the compound. He turned to his left, and peered through the hat he wore to shield his face from the afternoon's sun. He saw a group of people emerge from the car and another one behind. They walked towards a plot, at the far east side of the compound. A voice started to sing a sweet but solemn song. This was followed by quiet tears and sniffles. Then he saw the box, it was being lifted out of a long car. A box like so many others that got delivered. Henry sighed and looked away, his heart heavy. To the ground’s latest residence, he whispered a prayer and said...

“Welcome to your body's final resting place, the richest place on earth. Welcome to the place that holds within its grip untouched, unrefined, unadulterated and unused treasures; treasures more precious than silver and gold.”
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If I asked the question “Where is the richest place on earth?” What would your answer be? Would it be “The bank, the stock market or the sultan’s palace and empire”?

What do you think my answer would be? It would be something like this “The richest place on earth is the grounds of any Cemetery or graveyard. The place where the body eventually ends up when the spirit and soul departs from it”. What? I hear you ask.

Well, let your mind wander for a minute or two, and think about it. We could say the grave is the richest place on earth because it holds within its grasps, treasures that were never realised, unwrapped or utilised. It holds and keeps treasures more costly, beautiful and meaningful than silver, gold or diamonds. The Graveyard is a place that is full of man's potential that remained unfulfilled.

Imagine a soul, on arriving at heavens gate, realises that he/she could have been the greatest singer, writer, presenter, accountant, businessman/woman ever. That if they had realised their potential they could have done so much for the kingdom of God and for mankind. Now imagine that... !!! I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to be a soul in that situation!

In the gym this morning (yes, it does sound like I sleep in that place), puffing away on the StairMaster, hoping not to pass out and fall flat on my face, I was watching and listening to music on the attached TV screen. Brittany Spears came on and she was singing a song titled “circus”. The opening line to the song goes as thus “There are two types of people in life, the ones who entertain and the ones that observe”. That got me thinking.

I thought, really, we could say there are two types of people in life;

• those that make things happen, that work and walk diligently in God's will for their lives, persevering and trudging through every obstacle; and
• those that sit on the sidelines, watching other people make life happen because they are comfortable and content where they are, how far they have come and with what hand life has "supposedly dealt them".

At this point, I must ask; which type are we?

Are we making things happen, or are we in on the sidelines of content and comfortable? Are we in the middle of God’s will, doing our part to bring his will into manifestation, causing a ripple effect to our immediate environment, beyond and for generations to come? Or are we simply a spectator on the sidelines watching the procession of life waltz by?.


God never created us to be on the sidelines looking in. We were never created to be content and comfortable with where we are. God are meant to keep pressing forward, using our talents, abilities and skills to become a better you and a better me.

We were never made to be 'average' or embrace the reality of 'this will just about do', or 'I have got as far as I can go'. To do means we imprison ourselves within walls of limitations and limiting God's work in our lives.

A way to step out of the sidelines, away from the trap of 'comfortable and content', is by realising and embracing the talents, abilities and skills that God has placed within us and using them for his glory.

Matthew 25:14-30 teaches us about the parable of talents. (please read the whole chapter for completion). Jesus tells a story about a man who gives money (talent) to three individuals to keep, whilst he went away on a business trip. Each man used his money (talent) in different ways. Two invested and one hid his talent.

From the passage, we learn that each man was given a talent. It is safe to say at this point that God has given every single human being a talent, a gift. Each and every one of us have something to offer, be it big or small.

Imagine that it is a loved one’s birthday and you spend days, or even weeks, looking for the perfect gift. You finally find it, buy it and present it to that person, only to find that they don’t appreciate your gift. They take it from you, but in an instant toss it into the far corner of their room, forgotten, never to be seen, opened or used. Imagine how bad we would feel...

I sometimes wonder if God must feel the same way when we neglect or simply ignore the different talents and abilities he has deposited within us as explained in Ephesians 4:11, which reads "And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers."

Our talents, abilities or skills are meant to help us live out the reality of God's will and in so doing, cause a ripple effect and impact in our environment, generation and those to come. They are meant to help the world see the glory of God, therefore guiding back to him.

Also, we benefit from using our gifts, abilities or skills because the Bi-product, as I like to call them, are blessings such as wealth, health, wisdom, fulfilment, increase and expansion in all areas of our life; which by the way are meant to be used to bless others.

The decision or choice to realise, develop and use the gifts, abilities and much more that God has blessed us with, is ours to make. We can:

• Discover, develop and deploy (use) them for God's glory by actively working on and with it.
• We can discover, develop and deploy(use) them for our own self gain and greed; which is in tune with today's "me" society; or
• we can choose to ignore them totally, and live a life that is quite the opposite of God's will, thereby making the graveyards even more richer than it really needs to be.

Whatever we do, we must do our best not to take the gifts, skills and abilities we have been given to the grave, untapped, unrealised, unused and unopened.

So, do you know what talent or skills God has blessed you with? If you do, thank him for the wonderful gift; pray for wisdom, understanding and insight on how to develop and deploy them. Make a decision to work on and with them, for God's glory and in so doing, watch him take you places beyond your wildest dreams!

Are you unsure or don't know what talent and abilities you have? Firstly, be assured that you do have some, you just don't know what they are yet. Ask God for wisdom; ask him to reveal them to you. He will not rebuke you for asking, as we are taught in James 1:5 which reads "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." Once they have been discovered, one step at a time, start developing and deploying them and in so doing making room for God to steer you firmly and purposely in his will, making him famous along your way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by Photobucket***

NOT A JOB, BUT YOUR EDEN...

Browsing online the other day, and I came across a headline which read “Bank X will be cutting a further 1,200 jobs this month, car maker B has declared losses of £xxxx million and the effect will be 2,000 job losses. I thought wow, that is sure a lot of people to be out of a Job.

A couple of days later, I was speaking with a very good friend of mine and she explained how some friends lost their jobs and how they were distraught and complained that they had never-ending bills to pay, children and family to look after – car loans to service, mortgages to pay and the lot.

After the conversation, I mused and thought back to last year, 2008, when I was out of a job for almost seven months. However, without a job, I was fed, able to pay my bills, bless others and much more. The invaluable lesson I learnt, which God drummed into my heart, spirit, mind and soul was that, "my job was never intended to replace him as my source, he is my source". This is where most of us, at some point in this life, get it wrong. We use and see our daily job – (which by the way for most people), they hate, as our source.

As my friend put it, "most people live, pay cheque to pay cheque". This means they are solely dependant on that job for sustenance, increase, joy, importance, and the key to establishing realising that dream or that vision. This is and has NEVER been God’s will, intention or plan for us.

Whatever we find ourselves, our hands busy doing, it should be because:

• We enjoy it: deriving the sense of enjoyment from one’s job means that we are aligned or being aligned with God’s will for us.



• It helps us to release the creativity that God has placed within us: You see, we have to work because it is part of God’s divine nature in us. After all he worked 6 days to create the heavens and earth, thus, bringing to forth the beauty of his creativity – heaven and earth – the trees, fishes, seas, land, clouds and much more. Thus, we must work, but the work must be aligned to bring out the creative spirit that is within us. When this happens, it brings forth joy and creates solutions to problems around us.



• It is what we have been designed to do: when we work doing what we are born to do… Joy is evident, even when we are tired, we will still get up and go to work, and we will not have the cause to moan or complain about “the job” and so on.



• It gives room for God’s glory to shine through us, through our creativity, through the solution it brings, hence helping people, and thus advancing the kingdom of God.

Yes, God expects us to work (not have a Job), because that is part of his nature in us. However, we are not meant to be tied to and reside within virtual prison walls of a JOB, of a 9:00am – 5:00pm routine for a living. Why you ask? It is because God wants us to prosper through him.

I call it a virtual prison because for most people, the reality is this:

Wake up, get to work at 9:00am or thereabout, leave work at 5:00pm, get home, make dinner, watch some TV, chat with some friends, go to bed, then start the pattern all over again the next day. For some, this pattern repeats itself five times a week, for some it is seven. And then comes the weekend, because of being in the 9-5 prison all week, all the individual does is ‘relax’ or ‘catch up with ‘house chores’ – laundry, dishes, watch TV, eat, chat with friends and that is it.

Outside of this routine, nothing else it seems, happens! Sometimes the individual might get really fed up with the current job (at this point I sometimes imagine our angels telling us, yes that is it, the master wants you to go this way, embrace that gift or talent) and then, decides to get another job! Okay, a better paid job, but still within the same virtual prison. The difference might be that, the job is in a different company, a different city, town or even continent, but the routine and constraints continue to abound.

For every single one of us, God has an EDEN planned for us. We just need to align our vision and thoughts with his, walk in his will and he will lead us there. God’s desire is for his children is to prosper, not get stuck in the confinement of a job.

When we put all we have, hope and expect for (sometimes unknowingly) in a job, then we limit ourselves and we limit God to work on our behalf and deliver us into our destiny.

When we read Genesis 2: 8 – 12; 15 , it teaches us that:

• The Lord God PLANTED (CREATED) a Garden Eastward in EDEN


• then he put the man he had formed in it to TEND the garden


• And he made everything pleasant to the sight and pleasant for food

Genesis 2: 8 reads "8And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden [delight]; and there He put the man whom He had formed (framed, constituted)."

Genesis 2: 15 reads "15And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it."

Eden is the place where Adam and Eve lived before the Fall. Gen. 2:8–24. The dictionary defines Eden as a state of perfect happiness or bliss and a delightful place; a paradise.

So see, before God created us, he already established a place of abundance for us – OUR EDEN
And I believe that is not in the virtual walls of a job that we sometimes imprison ourselves in. God wants us to walk in a state of perpetual blessing – and in turn to be a blessing to others. In God’s Eden for us, there is no lack, no loss of job, no hunger.

A Job, will not provide the best of God’s Eden for us. We can all have the best of this land, of our Eden, as long as we come to the conclusion that:

• Jobs is not meant to be our Source, the Almighty God is.


• our expectations are not tied into a job, but in God


• A job, at best is just an enabler, to bring out the creativity and goodness God has placed within us, bringing forth his beauty, solutions and hence working to the advancement of his kingdom.

So, have you lost your job and in great despair? Well don’t loose hope! Take it all to God in prayer. Remember everything works together for your good. Even a job loss, sometimes this is what we need to bring us closer to God and use the gifts, talents and abilities that resides within us. Besides, what stops you from being a competitor to the company that laid you off? Selah.

Do you still have a job, be thankful to God, but DO NOT embrace the job as your source. Break free from the 9-5 virtual prison walls, walk and work into the very Eden God has created just for you, making you prosperous to be a blessing to others, whilst making him famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by Photobucket***

As You Mean To Go Along...

2And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. Habakkuk 2: 2 - 3

On Saturday, I was getting ready to go to the gym – yes, my body is a temple, even on weekends! So, I wondered into my study to pick up my gym bottle and then was confronted with this board below: Well this, people, is my prayer board. It was staring at me in the face, blatantly asking the question “Have you said a prayer or two about the points listed on me?” A few years ago, to help me gets to grip with my prayer life; I got a prayer board (visual reminders work perfectly for me). I keep it in a place where it is impossible to ignore, on my desk.

I moved closer and peered at the board to check the list. Alas, I had missed a few points during quiet time in the morning, so I proceeded to pause and say a prayer or two on the missed points and then made a note to re-align and update all my mobile technology (phones, PCs, Ipods), and then went on my way.

Whilst on my way, I started thinking about the whole notion of starting out well this year, which in turn reminded me of what my mum used to tell her kids every morning when we were getting ready for school. “start as you mean to go along” . Her meaning to be; if you want to have a successful day and a life, then you should start good, start well. which means rising up from the bed early!

She would say this everyday, backed up with… “Go to bed early. So you can rise up early, say your prayers, make your bed (you will get a few lashes if you don’t), eat breakfast and then arrive early to class refreshed and rearing to start the day”! It was a hard thing to do, because some days all I wanted to do was stay in bed. However if I wanted to get good results at the end of the school term, I knew better than to be left behind in bed! I always wanted to be amongst the top five in my class, which meant I had to "start as I meant to go along"!

This brings me to ask the question “Are we starting this year as we mean to go through it”? Are we starting on a high, medium, low or below par standard?

There are many things we can do and may different areas in our lives we can reform or refine, to help us start well, and a few are:

• Writing out our plan of actions for the year
• Fasting at least once a week
• Attending fellowship meetings – other than Sunday service
• Getting to work that bit extra early
• Register or dust off that gym membership and rescue the bulging waistline
• Increase of knowledge – reading at least one book a month – and then increasing
• Enrolling on a course, taking an exam
• Changing jobs / careers

Apart from the suggested list above, an increased and effective prayer life is one of the major areas we need to “start as we mean to go along.”

Prayer is not just reciting and ticking off our “God I want you to do for me list” but having conversations with him – we talk, he listens and then he talks and we listen.

In today’s busy world, it can be difficult to have a refined and meaningful prayer life; to put aside a specific time and a place to do it in! However, it is an important aspect of our lives that will most definitely need refining, improvement and kept active.

"To know, understand, get meaning on and answers to the questions about the dreams, aspirations God has laid within our hearts, and his will for us, we must have a two-way relationship with God. we must speak and listen to him".

Reading the Bible for example will definitely conjure up an avalanche of questions. For starters, imagine reading the book of Job, and seeing what Job went through and not going... What? but Lord why could you... ?!

Thus, we must and should sit at the masters’ feet, at certain times, in certain places, alone to be with just him, to ask and listen, or just love on him and him on us!

This year, I pray by God’s grace to have a more refined prayer life, and one of the things that constantly helps me is that visible prayer board. It helps me to keep prayers in focus when I am at home. When I am on the move I use all the technology available to me (I did say I love technology). At work, we have a quiet room, and I make full use of it. It’s not an easy discipline I tell you, but with time and by God’s grace it gets easier.

What about you? Why not try it and see and then come back and tell me about the changes you see.

On that note, "what do you think will or might work for you as a visible reminder to pray about all the hopes and dreams that God has placed within your heart; a reminder to intercede for that your brother, sister, friend, family, your sanctuary, your residential location, your country or where you work"? What visual reminder will help you have an increased, refined and effective prayer life? A few suggestions are:

At home:

• A visual board like mine.
• A note on the fridge, on the wall or door?
• The first hour when you wake up, or when everyone has gone to sleep?

On the move:

• A handwritten or printed prayer areas in your wallet / handbag
• Written prayer reminders in a small notebook or a diary
• A reminder programmed into your mobile phone, play station or game boy
• A message on your iPod, music or an audio version of the bible – listening to this will encourage and prompt prayer
• In your car, just as you park at the station, or when you have dropped the kids off to school

At work:

• Part of your lunch break: taking a reflection walk, pray whilst you walk, a quiet room (if your company has one), an empty meeting room (you can even book a meeting room – if it is free. It is a meeting with God after all)

In the gym (you knew this was coming right!):

• On the treadmill: listening to messages or an audio version of the bible and praying as you do so, besides you are getting two rewards for the price of one action, keeping your temple(body) fit and enriching your soul – check out http://www.hisfittemple.blogspot.com/

The above are just a few suggestions, but I’m sure there are more. Wherever it is, and what ever time we carve out to do it in, I encourage us all to find a time and a place to be alone with God. A place where we can have that much needed one to one conversation or to simply be still in his presence.

We need wisdom and discernment to know what to do with and how to operate and in this season of change that God has brought about.

So to us all, I say…

“On your Marks, Get Set, and Go”…..

Have a wonderful time refining yourself, whilst running the race that God has set ahead of you, making him famous along your way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by Photobucket***

New Attitude...To Rise, Run and Reign

This is the day the which
the Lord has brought about,
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Welcome to a New Dawn, A New Day and a New Year, a New Season of untold possibilities and realities!!!

The verse above encourages us to make the right choice at the start of each day; a positive choice to "be glad and rejoice in every single day", to "rejoice and be glad in this new year" and to "be glad and rejoice in this new season we have stepped into".

The verse is further teaching us to embrace embrace an attitude of possibilities which declares "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" as we are taught to declare in Philippians 4:13, which reads "I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me... NKJ. The Amplified explains further and it reads "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]."

To be GLAD means to show or cause joy and pleasure

To REJOICE means to feel joyful; to be delighted

Developing a positive attitude and approach to life can be tough, especially when things around us seem to be the same as it was in 2008, but we must look beyond our physical eyes, for even though on the surface it looks like things have not changed, look closely, you will see that God is doing a new thing as he declares in Isaiah 43:16, 18 - 19, which reads "16 This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland".

Ask God to open your eyes and understanding to see and understand the beauty of the new season you are in.

“Our attitude determines our altitude”

On that note, I encourage us all to start positively well. This year, is a journey we have to make whether we like it or not; but with God's help and his grace, we will start well and finish strong - One step a time.

I encourage us all to embrace gladness, Joy and thanksgiving as we step out into this new year, this new season. With a positive nature and outlook, move forward in hope, faith, declaring that there are "no impossibilities within your realities", as you navigate your way through the roads of 2009.

I encourage you to put on a positive stance, reside firmly within God's will to RISE, RUN AND REIGN in God's wisdom, strength and glory; making him famous along your way.

I leave you with this piece, enjoy...

Rise, Run and Reign
With thanksgiving and praise,
sing a song of gratitude to God
for a new season filled with new meanings

Step into a new beginning
with each day you've been given
make it a victorious experience
and your testimonies a profound witness

Tap into un-explored possibilities
use and distill all gifts and abilities
therein lies solutions to
this world's difficulties

Run in God's strength
Rise up in faith and hope
Reign in God's wisdom and glory
making the King famous
along your way... all through season

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by photobucket***